AS A taxpayer who is on a relatively low income I have been appalled to read the recent stories about what MPs have been claiming on expenses.

Why should we pay for an MP to have SKY/Virgin TV at their second home when news channels are available on freeview?

The responses you quote from Coventry’s Labour MPs are also surprising. Bob Ainsworth tries to evoke sympathy by saying he is “by far and away” the poorest paid when he is at MOD meetings and that he does not drive a Mercedes.

He should try living on Job Seekers Allowance for a month, or the amount his government pays our troops serving in Afghanistan.

I was also surprised to read Jim Cunningham MP say that we need a “better and more transparent system” when he actually voted against the results of a review of MPs’ expenses year, which would have removed some of the worst aspects of this system.

As voters we have the right to demand answers of those who represent us in Parliament and those who want to replace them.

We should all be clear that if any candidate wants our support then they must commit to clear this sorry mess up.